Our mission is to build wealth and create economic opportunity for underserved people and communities.

News

2015 Member Information update request

On July 2, 2015, Alternatives Federal Credit Union sent out an email request to our members asking them to update their personal information using a secure, encrypted, web-based form. This was a legitimate request. We are deeply committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your information.Your account number is an optional field within the form.

Information can also be updated through online banking or in the branch where one of our staff members can assist you.

Join us for Member Appreciation Days - in the lobby from 10am - 6pm.

July 17: Financial Independence

August 21: Schools and daycare groups

September 18: Home improvement

October 16: Harvest festival

November 20; Giving thanks and philanthropy

December 18: Celebrating diversity and holiday markets

If you are interested in tabling for a specific event that is relevant to your member business, please contact marketing@alternatives.org

Alternatives Federal Credit Union Announces 2015 Living Wage

How much does it cost to live in Tompkins County? According to Alternatives Federal Credit Union’s bi-annual Living Wage Study, a single person working full time would have to make $28,637.40 a year, or $13.77 per hour 40 hours a week.

On May 28, 2015 Alternatives’ Board of Directors voted unanimously to raise starting wages for Alternatives’ staff to the new Living Wage level, continuing its commitment as a role model employer for the community.

All Together Now

BusinessLoanConnection.orgis a unique collaboration between Community Development Credit Unions in Central and Upstate New York. By connecting existing and aspiring business owners to financial and skill-building opportunities, we work to cultivate successful small businesses throughout our combined service area.BusinessLoanConnection.org is brought to you by CDFI-certified Credit Unions: Alternatives Federal Credit Union and Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union.

Scam alert

Members should be aware of an automated phone scam currently in the wild. If you receive a phone call, with a recorded message indicating that there is a hold on your M&T debit card, do not return the call, and do not provide any card information. If you have provided your Alternatives FCU card information in response to this scam, please contact Alternatives FCU immediately.

We are completely honored and thrilled to receive this award! This award "honors credit unions that consistently excel in the advancement of credit union ideals, are proactive in their communities and meet the needs of their own diverse member bases."

Unexpected expenses can be tough. We are here to help. If you can document emergency medical, dental, veterinarian, home, or auto repairs, Alternatives FCU offers a loan at a much lower rate than most credit cards.

Laurie and Zoe Hill

Our family's strongest connection to Alternatives started at the Student Credit Union branch at Fall Creek Elementary School. Zoe started as a Saver and I as a Teller five years ago. Zoe is a regular depositor. I started putting money into my savings account on a more regular basis when we realized that it would be a good place to have a vacation account - one we didn't have a debit card or checkbook for. We saved enough for a trip to Zurich to visit friends on sabbatical and then the fast train to Paris.

Alternatives Federal Credit Union ("Alternatives") provides a hyperlink to Google Translate™ for convenience only and without any responsibility for the accuracy of translations. Alternatives has no control over this unrelated, free and entirely computerized translation program. Computerized translations are only an attempted approximation of the website’s original content and thus Alternatives makes no representations or warranties of any kind with respect to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of any translations. Persons using translated information do so at their own risk.